SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Mormon church is ramping up its opposition to a medical marijuana proposal in Utah even as leaders insist they would support patients using the cannabis under stricter controls.
Jack Gerard, a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said on Aug. 23, 2018 that the faith supports tightly controlled use of the drug, but is “deeply concerned” that a plan set for the November 2018 ballot doesn’t have enough oversight.
He was joined by a number of state heavy-hitters, such as the president of the Utah Jazz, and a handful of patients who support medical cannabis but are turning against the ballot initiative in favor of the church-backed coalition.
Medical-marijuana advocates took the issue to the voters after years of frustration at the state Legislature and easily cleared a high bar to make the November ballot.
